Jillian Eichel
With over 20 years of experience, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to support my clients in their personal growth and healing journeys. It is an honor to walk alongside individuals as they navigate life’s challenges, explore their emotions, develop new skills, and uncover their authentic selves.
I believe every person has a fundamental need to feel a sense of belonging, purpose, safety, and love. When these basic needs are unmet, it can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, disconnection, and lack of motivation. From an early age, we develop coping strategies to manage the unmet needs and feelings, but these strategies don’t always address the root causes of our struggles. It’s often when these coping mechanisms no longer suffice that we begin seeking professional support. Therapy is a powerful tool to help individuals reconnect with their core needs and start building lives that are more fulfilling and meaningful.
My approach is eclectic and integrative, blending aspects of cognitive-behavioral, existential, and developmental theories to name a few. Central to my work is a focus on identifying, expressing, and integrating emotions to foster lasting transformation. Over the years, I have had the privilege of leading workshops in emotional and social intelligence, effective communication, mindfulness, and addiction recovery. Additionally, I have facilitated healing circles for individuals navigating divorce, weekend retreats for women, and a program designed to support singles in dating consciously and creating lives they love.
A particular area of passion for me is supporting those who have experienced loss. Grief is an incredibly personal journey, and I am honored to guide clients through this process. I believe loss holds the potential for profound transformation, and healing occurs most deeply when we connect with our emotional, physical, and spiritual selves.
Another area of expertise is helping individuals and couples build healthy, thriving relationships. Whether I am working with engaged couples preparing for marriage or individuals looking to enhance their relationships with others, I integrate techniques from the Gottman Method, emotionally focused therapy, and personality styles (including birth order) to facilitate conflict resolution, improve communication, and foster intimacy.
Beyond my therapeutic work, I am inspired by my travels and experiences abroad, which have given me a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and the power of sacred sites around the world. My experiences early in life with yoga and Ayervedic practices also inform my worldview. Music, dance, art, and nature in particular hold a special place in my heart and I believe in the healing power of creativity. Tapping into something higher – through the act of creation or connection with nature – is such a helpful part of the therapeutic process.
I hold a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Northwestern University, a Master’s in Community Counseling from Loyola University Chicago, and a second Master’s in Transformational Leadership & Coaching. I have a certificate in Dynamic Breathwork, am a licensed Clinical Professional Counselor through the State of Illinois and am a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation. I started my career as a therapist in the substance abuse and mental illness program at the Josselyn Center in Northfield, and interned at Haymarket recovery center. I am thrilled to be offering therapy and counseling as a member of the team at Living Well Psychology.
